In a showcase on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a neon pink outfit donned by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a massive crowd of attendees was hailed as a success.
It's possible you appreciate the performer. Perhaps you believe he is the ultimate present to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a reasonable stance, admitting that some hits are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Preferences differ. There is no universal formula to create music or even the longest format.
The Unrivalled Depth of Test Cricket
The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dictated by conditions.
The climate, the session, the red ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the wicket.
If the format is art, the strip is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Fourth Test
The fourth Ashes Test between the two sides was the game deconstructed, the traditional sport dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
Let's be clear, this isn't a justification of the wicket which produced a victory and the another sub-three-day finish of the contest.
Having a thick layer on the pitch, causing 36 wickets tumbling in less than six sessions, is not a balanced duel between offense and defense.
A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a lesser event, one that should be marked with an asterisk as inauthentic, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, 2,615 parts and ongoing. Sometimes, as witnessed recently, the ball behaves unpredictably for the seamers. In contrast, it spins sharply on a spinning track. Sometimes, the pitch is dead, other times it spits like a cobra.
The exciting finishes are all the more thrilling owing to the patience devoted in other matches.
Adaptation: The True Test
Specific conditions are embraced more freely than others.
The contention in at the MCG was that the balance was skewed excessively towards the fielding side. That the top batters were prevented from showcasing their talents.
Test cricket is about problem solving – reading the conditions and responding effectively. The two highest individual innings were made by acknowledged batters. One line-up made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: For Those Who Waited
Try telling the fans who have endured a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, thousands made noise and chanted, fostering a festive mood in a stronghold of national pride.
There was optimism as the fielding side surged, advantage when batters responded, and unconditional love when the result was secured.
Contrasting Examples: The Range of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. Eight years ago, a game there featured a strip with all the life of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are polar opposites of the scale – one is not more ideal, yet value can be found in them.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"It's not the death of the long game at all," observed a veteran. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been given some genuine drama. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his back.
The squad delivered for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents stepped up with vital performances. These are baby steps, certainly not enough to ensure long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this Melbourne victory is added to other notable performances in dead rubbers.
As the supporters departed into a stunning sunset, the players congregated on the field to commence their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, men. This victory was hard-fought.
